Vyacheslav Semenduev allegedly withdrew money aimed at the construction of a residential complex in Sochi.

The Moscow Central AD Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs launched an investigation into a $5-million theft committed while developing Krasnaya Ploschad (the Russian for “Red Square”) residential complex in Sochi. Vyacheslav Semenduev’s Newland Company was implementing the project. According to
Rosbalt, a criminal case has been filed under Article Swindling committed by an organized group on an especially large scale (part 4, Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Krasnaya Ploschad residential complex in Sochi

Newland had been attracting investors and one of them gave the company a target loan of $5.3 million in 2010. The money was intended solely to compensate for Krasnaya Ploschad construction works. However, according to the investigators, all the funds were going to Semenduev’s personal account in Loko-bank through fictitious contracts with Interstroy LLC and Eldorado M OJSC, as well as to accounts of firms run by persons associated with the businessman. After that, the money was withdrawn.

The complex had to be completed back in 2009, yet the works were suspended at some point. In addition, the company was going to build a multifunctional complex called Sochi City where Chaika hotel had been. The lease agreements for the multifunctional complex were signed in 2008. The estimated investments were to reach $380 million, and the works were to be completed by 2011. Then, First Czech-Russian Bank (FCRB) claimed about 800 million rubles ($13.7m) from Newland and Krasnaya Ploshchad LLC in 2011. The bank had given them the money as a loan. However, Semenduev’s affiliated companies stopped servicing the loan because of some problems with the city administration and the project that had been put on hold. Eventually, Krasnaya Ploschad was completed in 2014.

Zhasmin (singer) and Semenduev

Apart from development projects in Sochi, Semenduev is also known as Moscow restaurateur: he owns Eldorado restaurant and La Gurme restaurant. He is known to the general public as the ex-husband of Zhasmin, a singer who divorced him in 2006. There was a criminal case over the whole story as the singer had claimed that Semenduev would beat her. Later the charges were dropped upon mutual agreement of the parties.